HyperWRT was a GPL firmware project for the Linksys WRT54G and WRT54GS wireless routers based on the stock Linksys firmware. The original goal of the HyperWRT project was to add a set of features—such as power boost—to the latest Linux-based Linksys firmware, extending its possibilities but staying close to the official firmware. Over time, it continued to be updated with newer Linksys firmware, and added many more features typically found in enterprise routing equipment.
Like most other third-party firmware, HyperWRT is not compatible with the later (2006) WRT54G v5.0 ("CDFB" serial number prefix) and WRT54GS v5.0 ("CGN7" serial number prefix). These model versions do not run Linux by default, although you may use vxworks-killer firmware images to run stripped down linux versions like "dd-wrt.v24_micro_generic" or replace the flash memory 2MB chip with 4MB. Linksys currently produces WRT54GL for running 3rd party firmwares. Also, like most other WRT54G third-party firmware, it is assumed that power settings higher than 62mw would be used for long range internet use at the "B" speeds that are more tolerant to noise. Furthermore, its true of power boost firmwares that every time you double the output power, you get only 3 decibels more and in only one direction; therefore, a more efficient antenna (that also helps reception) can be more effective at long range than a power boost alone.
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The original HyperWRT project was started in 2004 by Timothy Jans (aka Avenger 2.0), with continued development into early 2005. Another programmer called Rupan then continued HyperWRT development by integrating newer Linksys code as it was released.
Later in 2005, two developers called tofu and Thibor picked up HyperWRT development with HyperWRT +tofu for the WRT54G and HyperWRT Thibor for the WRT54GS. Both developers frequently collaborated and added features from each other's releases, and both developed WRTSL54GS versions of their firmware. After February 2006, tofu discontinued development and his code was incorporated into HyperWRT Thibor. HyperWRT Thibor15c (July 2006) was the last version of HyperWRT and was compatible with the WRT54G (v1-v4), WRT54GL (v1-v1.1), WRT54GS (v1-v4), and WRTSL54GS (later unfinished beta 17rc3 released Feb 2008).
Beyond 2008, * Tomato - a direct progeny of HyperWRT that has most of the same code, is in current production and supports a greater variety of router equipment. According to former HyperWRT forum moderators and interviews with the firmware writers, its not necessary to upgrade an older router if you're enjoying its performance; however, if you wish to upgrade, Tomato is the direct upgrade path from HyperWRT.
While the scope, or mission, of HyperWRT was to retain the look of Linksys firmware for ease of use, so many features were added over the years that the original Linksys interface (menus) didn't gracefully contain all of the new features--they became difficult to find (according to HyperWRT support forums). Because of this, Tomato stepped beyond the scope of HyperWRT by streamlining both the interface and the internal code (a clean re-write, also with a new interface) to seamlessly incorporate both old and new features. Available updates to HyperWRT stopped shortly after the start, and short co-development, of the Tomato project. Since then, years of new refinements and updates have been added, and of great interest, is the somewhat higher speed routing that came from the lookup components update within some versions of Tomato. Quote from Daniel, a HyperWRT support forum moderator: "It was my pleasure to help out with HyperWRT, but now in the year 2011, I think that you should go and have a look at its more refined successor, the Tomato firmware, and see what it has to offer."
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